Asheville, North Carolina News

Archive for the ‘retail’ Category

ASHEVILLE, NC – From bangles and bags to classic tops and chic denim, the fashionistas among us understand the thrill of discovering the perfect addition to our closets. The search can oftentimes be exhausting, so when we find a gem of a dress or an inspired pair of shoes, we know how to appreciate them. And if we are the admirers of all things stylish, then Moda, the newest locally-owned boutique to open in Biltmore Park Town Square, is the artist that brings our favorite pieces together in a collage of sophisticated and modern apparel and accessories.

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Moda, located on Town Square Boulevard next to children’s boutique Bon Bébé, opened on Friday, November 20th much to the delight of Asheville’s fashion-forward women. Whether dining downtown or working at the office, anyone can see that the region is brimming with unique styles, and Moda promises to be a great place for discovering your new favorite article of clothing to warm up with during winter.

Of course, we don’t want to leave the men out as there are plenty of options for holiday gifts that the women in your life will love. From jewelry and perfume to elegant outfits that are sure to flatter, Moda ensures that there isn’t room for error when selecting the perfect present. So, consider Town Square for your holiday excursions, and say “Thank You” to Asheville this Thanksgiving by supporting local retailers.

Other gift ideas include gift certificates to Sparrow Spa or Sensibilities, new furnishings for your home from Dwellings, handcrafted art from Echo Gallery, and more. Visit Moda Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Soft pastel colors, huggable gifts, and the cutest décor you could imagine. These are the newest offerings of recently-opened Bon Bébé in Biltmore Park Town Square. Whether shopping for your own children or perusing their selection of apparel and furnishing for friends and family, Town Square’s newest store is not to be missed. Bon Bébé is every pampering parent’s dream, and if you aren’t one yet, chances are you’ll want to be once you venture into the store.

Located in Suite 110 on Town Square Boulevard, the main road in Biltmore Park, their storefront display is a good representation of what they have to offer. The fashionable clothing and posh cribs, bassinets, armoires, and more will have you wishing for the days when you could spend your time snuggled deep under blankets without a care in the world. And even though you may not be able to return to that time, you can ensure that the children in your life enjoy their time with peaceful, comfortable, and, of course, fashion-forward days.

Bon Bébé is one of a group of retail stores that recently moved to Biltmore Park Town Square, and they are excited about adding to the variety of offerings in the mixed-use center in South Asheville. Town Square is quickly becoming a one-stop shopping destination, and when you visit Bon Bébé, you also have an opportunity to stop by retailers REI, Barnes & Noble, Sparrow Spa, and more. In the meantime, don’t forget to venture into Bon Bébé and welcome them to Town Square.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Asheville now has a unique addition to its dining scene, Roux, the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park’s new restaurant, featuring an innovative menu that incorporates small plates and comfort food with a creative twist. The Hilton Asheville along with Roux opened this August.

The restaurant’s entrees and small dishes create fusions of southern comfort and sophistication: its macaroni and cheese is truffled, its barbeque sliders are salmon and its bistro meatloaf sauce is a red-onion marmalade. Roux’s wide range of dishes range from grilled portobello and radicchio to lemon roasted chicken and sweet and spicy wings.

The basis for the restaurant name, roux, is the cooking mixture classically used to thicken the principal sauces of French cuisine. Roux, the restaurant, also blends the best of both gourmet and southern comfort food worlds.

The restaurant uses the concept of the old blue plate special to create ‘small’ and ‘larg’’ plates but with a spin- rustic potato frites in white truffle-scallion aioli and similar innovations replacing the usual ketchup and French fries- just the kind of twist Roux will become known for.

Roux’s Executive Chef Randy Dunn of Sparta, Tenn., has 15 years of culinary achievement behind him. He attended culinary school in Charleston, S.C., has worked at the Marriott in Birmingham, Ala., and had the opportunity to cook for Julia Child while at Sydney’s Grill in Cambridge, Mass. “I believe Roux will really offer something very different from your typical hotel restaurant. Here you’ll find a fun dining experience, something very social yet with great food and attentive service,” said Dunn.

The restaurant will use as much local, Asheville-based food as possible following in the footsteps of the Hilton Asheville’s commitment to sustainability. “My goal is to support local farmers and merchants and become a responsible neighbor in the town I am very excited to now be calling home,” said Dunn.

The Hilton Asheville is a luxurious, new, LEED Registered hotel located in the heart of Biltmore Park Town Square, just minutes from Biltmore Estate and just steps from dining, shopping and entertainment. Hilton Asheville is located just off Interstate 26, Exit 37 on Long Shoals Road in Biltmore Park Town Square. This location is just 5 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport and 15 minutes from Biltmore Estate and downtown Asheville.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Asheville City Council has voted to accept a $40,000 donation from The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa to pay for fireworks during the upcoming holiday season. “Seasonal Sizzle at Seven” is a business stimulus campaign centered around three firework programs to be fired off at 7:00 P.M. on the first three Saturdays in December in downtown Asheville. This campaign will encompass the first 19 days of December with various customer oriented specials. The goal is to stimulate the local economy during the holidays.

“This is the second year we have sponsored the Seasonal Sizzle at Seven, and we believe it is a valuable economic tool for the local business community,” said Ron Morin, Executive Director of Operations at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. “Local merchants have told us that Seasonal Sizzle at Seven was very good for business last year because it brought more people to the downtown area for shopping and dining. We believe everyone will benefit again this year.”

In addition to the free fireworks sponsored by The Grove Park Inn Spa & Resort, Asheville residents and holiday visitors will also enjoy live entertainment, seasonal specials at local restaurants, and extended hours of evening shopping in downtown Asheville’s eclectic boutiques and craft galleries.

ASHEVILLE, NC – It’s undeniable that Asheville is inundated with talent, and the arts are the heart and soul of the city. From Appalachian crafts that have been carried down through generations to contemporary and novel creations, the galleries in the area host world-class offerings with a unique hometown twist. Biltmore Park Town Square is now adding to the mix as host of the newly-founded cooperative Echo Gallery, which opens on Friday, September 18th.

Founded by seven artists whose studios are currently headquartered in the River Arts District, Echo Gallery is a welcome expansion into South Asheville. While each artist is different in medium and style, each piece complements the other by showcasing skill, perspective, and method. Whether eager to observe a sample of what makes Western North Carolina such an appealing destination or shopping for your home, the quality of the paintings, ceramics, sculptures, textiles, and photography are sure to inspire.

The artists are excited about gaining more visibility in their new location, and Town Square couldn’t be more excited about their contributions to the area. Asheville is one of the Southeast’s most popular arts destinations, and Biltmore Park is glad to feature local culture and talent among its unique mix of national and local tenants. The founding artists of the Echo Gallery include Anna Kolosieke, Barbara Fisher, Susan Web Lee, Laurie McCarrier, Lori Therault, and Heather Tinnaro.

Echo Gallery is located in Suite 160 at Eight Town Square Boulevard across from the newly opened Barnes & Noble. The hours are Thursday-Saturday from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., making it a wonderful destination for restaurant and movie-goers in Biltmore Park. Learn more at www.echoasheville.com

ASHEVILLE, NC – Just Ducky Originals, LTD, an Asheville-based children’s clothing manufacturer with stores in Asheville and Waynesville announced today that it will be relocating its Asheville store from 100 Charlotte Street to 10 All Souls Crescent in Biltmore Village. The new location has a planned opening date of Friday, September 4th – Labor Day weekend.

“We are excited to become a part of Historic Biltmore Village and its quaint shopping atmosphere,” said Sallie Broach, owner of Just Ducky Originals. “The location at the entrance to the Biltmore Estate with its large tourist draw for Asheville is what helped convince us to move.”

Sallie started Just Ducky nearly 30 years ago in the attic of her Asheville home. The company has grown to a multi-million dollar venture with over 300 women selling the children’s line in home shows across the country. Two Just Ducky retail locations specialize in classic fashions for boys and girls, where you’ll find the Just Ducky line at 30%-50% off, as well as other beautiful children’s lines, unique baby gifts, and a large selection of accessories.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Today Indianapolis-based appliance and electronics leader hhgregg announced the grand opening of its 113th store in North Carolina. The store is located at 80 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville. hhgregg will celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremonies followed by an official store opening at 3:00 p.m.

Hundreds of items, including televisions, appliances and mattresses in both stores will be deeply discounted during the Grand Opening that will last through July 25.

“We are very pleased to continue expanding our presence in North Carolina,” said Jeff Pearson, Vice President of Marketing, hhgregg. “We now have sixteen stores in North Carolina providing a wide selection of appliances and electronics to residents, combined with our unmatched customer service.”

The new store in Asheville will provide a convenient shopping location for North Carolina’s major metropolitan areas, displaying a wide selection of appliances along with highly-trained sales associates to educate customers about their array of choices. hhgregg also offers in-home delivery and installation, making it convenient for customers to get started with their new products right away.

WEAVERVILLE, NC – A new 117,000-square-foot Lowe’s Home Improvement store will open to the public at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 22.

Employees are stocking more than 40,000 items right now, according to a company press release. Typically, a store this size represents an $18.5-million investment and creates up to 175 jobs.

Wal-Mart is scheduled to open a new Supercenter near the Lowe’s on June 17.
The two retailers are in the Northridge Commons development, which is just off Future Interstate 26 at the Weaverville exit. Initially, developers planned to also build a 30,000-square-foot retail strip to house smaller shops, but those plans are on hold because of the recession.

Lowe’s of Weaverville, as the company refers to the store, will hold a formal grand opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 28. Lowe’s will offer a "Card Match Day – Buy a Gift Card, Help Build a Home." Shoppers can buy a Lowe’s Gift Card and Lowe’s will match purchases up to $5,000 to support Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity’s next building project.

The store is located at 24 Northridge Commons Parkway. Lowe’s has more than 1,650 stores in the United States and Canada, but it has slowed its expansion pace this year. In the 2008 fiscal year, which for Lowe’s ended in January, the chain planned to open 120 stores. Plans for 2009 call for 75-85 new stores.

"Lowe’s has slowed the pace of new store development, but we’re still dedicated to the long term," spokeswoman Karen Cobb said in December, adding that the company does extensive market research before opening a new location and remains enthusiastic about the Weaverville market. "When we make a decision to open a new store, it’s because there are homeowners to serve, and we feel like there’s plenty of growth potential in the community."

Based in Mooresville, Lowe’s had fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion. It serves approximately 14 million customers a week. Founded in 1946, Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit www.Lowes.com.

ASHEVILLE, NC – There is only so much a bubble bath and a book can do when you are surrounded by your cast off clothes from a long work day and thinking about the dishes in the sink that, despite how much you wish, are not going to wash themselves. Scrubs. Salts. Clay. Peels. Polish. Lotions and potions. Even heated stones. There are few lengths that we have not explored in our search for rejuvenation and true relaxation.

Fortunately, one Asheville local is hoping to stop that search short by replacing it with and almost too good to be true reality. In August, Sparrow Spa will open its doors in the first floor of the Hilton Asheville in Biltmore Park Town Square. Owned by Jen Charlton, the luxurious resort spa will offer an incredible array of services with a unique Asheville flair. Passionate about pampering yet every aware of the eclectic charm and offerings of this great city, Charlton is determined to combine spa services with Asheville artistry, a collaboration that promises a one-of-a-kind experience.

Featuring natural, organic products, Sparrow Spa will exclusively use Eminence Organic Skin Care–a European line that contains the highest possible levels of all-natural organically-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Guests can enjoy teas and treats from local business Morsels as they select from a full menu of massages, facials, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures, all while in a beautiful and distinctive environment. While the atmosphere will relax and calm, it will also actively support the arts community, a business helping business philosophy that Charlton is looking forward to promoting.

Jonathan Wainscott, who designed the interior of the spa, will produce custom millwork, while local artist Charles Donaldson will carve custom glass panels for the nail care area. The spa will also function as a gallery, showcasing the work of several local craftspeople and artisans. But Charlton isn’t stopping there. She also hopes to give back to the community with Sparrow Spa’s “Cause for Celebration” package. Proceeds will support the Animal Compassion Network, Western North Carolina’s largest animal welfare non-profit.

“Cause for Celebration” could not be more aptly named. Asheville residents and visitors will have good reason to celebrate as they toss out the bubble bath they got on last week’s grocery shopping trip and replace it with a world-class spa with local style. Support local business, indulge, and wash that stress away. The dishes can wait.

Jen Charlton also owns Sensibilities Spa, located in Downtown Asheville and Biltmore Park Town Square.

ASHEVILLE, NC – Parents are increasingly eco-conscious, especially when it comes to their children. A top priority for many is raising a green baby – exposing babies to safer, organic products and clothing as opposed to those containing harsh chemicals. Organic Baby Wearhouse is launching a new line of organic baby clothes and blankets to help meet this demand, as well as a new gift registry service.

“Our new baby clothing line has it all,” says Erick Recors, Partner and VP of Sales with Organic Baby Wearhouse. “We combine both organic fabrics and natural colors with very functional styles which can hold up to even the most playful and adventurous babies and toddlers. The pieces are even designed to be easy on the parents with features like easy-off zippers. On top of being an environmentally-friendly option, our new line is also economically-conscious, with all products grown and manufactured in America.”

The items carried in this new line are 100% organic. The company features both classic and modern styles, to fit the tastes of any new parent. The new line features blankets, baby yoga sets, body suits, dresses, hats, baby mits, jackets, jumpers, and more.

Eco-conscious parents-to-be can take advantage of another new addition to Organic Baby Wearhouse – the company is launching a gift registry service this May. In the past, while friends and family members of new parents may have known their preference towards organic baby products, they may not have known where to find those products through traditional retail outlets. The new gift registry will allow parents to hand-pick the types of safe and healthy baby products they want their child exposed to, while making those products more accessible for those shopping for baby shower gifts.